'Step up pressure on Myanmar to repatriate Rohingyas'

Bangladesh has urged the international community to continue and "step up pressure on Myanmar" authorities so that the Rohingyas can return to their ancestral homes in Myanmar in safety, dignity and sustainable livelihood.

"Bangladesh as a responsive and responsible state, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, gave shelter to more than one million Rohingya population, who fled violence and atrocities in the Northern Rakhine State of Myanmar," said State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam last night.

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Couriers of misfortune

He was addressing as the chief guest at a reception marking the French National Day at Franco-German joint Embassy in Dhaka.

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Marie-Annick Bourdin also spoke.

The state minister appreciated the strong support - both humanitarian and political - extended by the French Government in response to the Rohingya crisis.

"We also appreciate the role played by French President Emmanuel Macron, personally and his Government collectively through the European Union and the United Nations Security Council to find a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar," he said.

At present, Shahriar said, the growing interaction between the political leaders, businessmen, entrepreneurs, scholars, artists and researchers are well marked.

He recalled with deep satisfaction the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Emmanuel Macron that took place at the Elysee Palace in December 2017, when she visited France to attend the "One Planet Summit".

"Our two leaders' meeting provided us with the much needed momentum to chart a roadmap for future direction of our ever growing bilateral relations," he said.

Shahriar said bilateral trade between two countries experienced a steady growth in the last decade and crossed two billion dollar mark last year.

He said many French multinational-companies are engaged in Bangladesh. French Company "Lafarge-Surma" is having one of the largest FDI in Bangladesh.

Another French company Thales Alenia Space has built the Bangladesh's first satellite, "Bangabandhu Satellite-1" that was launched in April 2018.

The state minister said Bangladesh is now marching towards the materialisation of Vision 2021, a roadmap to convert it in to a middle income country by 2021 and Vision 2041, a road map to turn Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041.

"In this endevour, the support from the international community, particularly from France, as an old and time tested friend, has always been a major strength Bangladesh and her people," he added.

Current and former ministers, diplomats, editors, civil society members and business leaders were present.